Incredible pictures capture rare 'Elephant Queen' in Kenya

Towering high above the Kenyan landscape, this female elephant is huge, her long tusks curving right down to the ground.

Known as a "big tusker" she's a rare and extraordinary sight -- it's estimated that fewer than 30 of these animals still exist in Africa.

British photographer Will Burrard-Lucas captured a series of black-and-white photographs of this animal -- who he calls the Elephant Queen -- roaming in the natural landscape around Kenya's Tsavo National Park.

He took the images in partnership with the Tsavo Trust, a local not-for-profit group, over a few visits in the hope of raising awareness about the animals.

"It was just incredible," Burrard-Lucas tells CNN Travel. "Especially in this day and age where these elephants with long tusks are so rare."

Capturing the moment

Wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas took these striking shots of a rare "big tusker" elephant in Kenya.

Courtesy Will Burrard-Lucas / @willbl

Burrard-Lucas spent some time living in Tanzania as a child, which sparked his interest in wildlife photography.

"My earliest memories are of safari and wildlife and ever since those days I've had this passion for the natural world," he says.

Burrard-Lucas worked in partnership with the Tsavo Trust to take the pictures

Courtesy Will Burrard-Lucas / @willbl

He took the images of the elephant with a contraption known as the "Beetlecam" which allows him to get close-up photographs of wildlife in its natural habitat.

"Over the years I've used it on various projects, and for this project, it's really to show and emphasize the size of these animals," he adds.

Burrard-Lucas wants his images to promote wildlife conservation.

Courtesy Will Burrard-Lucas / @willbl

"I hope people are inspired to care about the natural world and, if they want to, to support organizations like the Tsavo Trust who are working so well to keep these animals protected."